In a capitalist society, legalizing something as relatively harmless (especially when placed next to alcohol) would be the next option.
You see, in a free market economy as we have, there is a demand for certain items, and when there is a demand it is extremely profitable to supply it. There are many, many supplies and demands in our economy, and they all effect each other in some way with prices and so forth. But when you declare the supplying of a certain demand illegal, you are effectively cutting it of from the US net economy and allowing an underground black market economy the ability to reap the rewards.
It can be argued that there are certain ways that it helps our economy, such as police officers get paid, but this is truly not substantial given the amount we spend on putting away marijuana offenders and the war on drugs. This amount vastly, VASTLY overpasses any sort of profit we could make from it. If anything, the few lobbyists representing certain people who benefit personally from it being illegal may be disappointed, but that truly would not even come close to the figure of how much it would benefit.
My suggestion is that if it were to be legalized it should be encouraged that people don't use it, but it should be encouraged truthfully, much like cigarettes. They should emphasize the immediate risks with the damage it can cause to your lungs, especially since as of know that is the only area of damage we are positive about. Scare tactics are perfectly acceptable as well, as long as they are truthful.
Anyone who knows anything about the economy will agree. I think that it is obvious and logical enough and that enough people agree that soon policies will change concerning it. It's already happening in California with the medicinal marijuana. Perhaps with a Democratic presidency, or perhaps with the forward-thinkingness of McCain if that's the way it turns out, we will at the very least see improvements in policy concerning it.
